A Natural Tendency to See Design and Purpose

Yesterday, we looked at a study showing that people worldwide, across various cultures, have a natural tendency to believe in God and an afterlife. Today, I want to look at a Boston University study showing that both adults and children have a natural tendency to see design and purpose in nature.

The project tested scientists at research universities such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT. It also included two control groups. One group included people with bachelor’s degrees who were about the same age as the scientists. A second control group included undergraduates. The goal was to see whether the scientists had been sufficiently trained not to see purpose or design in the natural world. 

The groups were given a list of 100 statements about why things happen and asked to agree or disagree. Some of the statements showed intelligent purpose, such as “Children wear mittens in the winter to keep their hands warm.” Mixed in with those statements were others that indicated purpose in natural things, such as “The Earth has an ozone layer to protect it from UV light.” Of course, the scientists were not expected to see purpose or design in nature, so they were expected to disagree with the purpose statements concerning natural events or objects.

The research showed that the trained veteran scientists were less likely than the control groups to find purposeful reasons for natural events or objects. They had been trained not to see purpose or design in nature, while they could see purpose in human choices or actions. However, when the scientists were put under severe time constraints, not giving them time to carefully consider their answers, they often said that natural relationships had a purpose.

The scientists’ answers under time pressure showed that they had maintained a natural tendency to see design and purpose in nature. In other words, they had to take a moment to suppress that tendency because a purpose or design in natural things would indicate the existence of a purposeful Designer. That concept is not acceptable in modern science.

This research shows that even trained scientists have a natural tendency to see design and purpose in natural events and objects. Evolutionary biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins, writing in his book Climbing Mount Improbable, told about a time when he was driving through the countryside with his six-year-old daughter. The girl was excited about seeing “pretty” wildflowers. Dawkins asked his daughter what she thought was the purpose of wildflowers. She replied, “To make the world pretty, and to help the bees make honey for us.” Dawkins said he was sorry that he “had to tell her that it wasn’t true.” According to Dawkins, biology is the study of things that appear to be designed for a purpose, but his atheism forces him to argue that there is no purpose.

Thinking there is no purpose in nature leads to the idea that there is no purpose in our existence. Many young people who see no purpose in their lives waste their lives seeking pleasure or end their lives. Seeing no God, no design, and no purpose leads to no hope.

— Roland Earnst © 2026

Reference: “The Natural Design Default” by Art Lahnke in Bostonia, winter-spring 2013